Exploring London’s WW2 Bomb Census to unlock the history of your house

What is the Bomb Census?

During September 1940, the government began gathering data about damage from bombing raids, known as the 'Bomb Census.'

Initially, it focused on London, Birmingham, and Liverpool, but by September 1941, it covered all of the UK.

The goal was to give the government a clear picture of air raids, including patterns, types of weapons used, and the damage inflicted, especially on key services like railways, factories, and utilities.

Local authorities, including police, air raid wardens, and military personnel, collected information about where, when, and what kinds of bombs fell during raids. They sent this data to the Ministry of Home Security Bomb Census Organization, where it was plotted on maps by regional technical officers.

Where can I access the Bomb Census?

Previously, the bomb census data was only available in person at the National Archives in Kew. However, the Bomb Sight project has digitalised the data, making it searchable online for the first time.